Carrying case



Nov. 6, 1956 D. A. FISHER 2,769,475

CARRYING CASE Filed Feb. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. Doucsms Q. F'ISHEE Nov. 6, 1956 D. A. FISHER 2,769,475

CARRYING CASE Filed Feb. 8, 1954. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 T5. T '7. 12a. INVENTOR;

Douems 9. H955? a'rTo ENE Y6 United States Patent C) CARRYING CASE Douglas A. Fisher, New York, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,846

3 Claims. (Cl. 150-33) This invention relates to a carrying case and more particularly to a brief bag of the flat, rectangular type. One of the objects of this invention is to provide a carrying case having a general appearance of the conventional article, so as not to detract from the usual professional appearance of a brief bag, for example, while making provision for the optional use of a shoulder strap, so as to provide the convenience of a shoulder strap bag of the type used to carry cameras and by young ladies in the armed services. Other objects may be inferred from the following disclosure.

A specific example of the invention applied to the usual professional brief bag is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows two gentlemen of which the one on the left is using the brief bag in the fashion of a' shoulder strap bag while the gentleman on the right is carrying the brief bag in the conventional manner;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the new brief bag;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the bag;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the bag;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the bag;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 3 and showing details of the invention on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

The illustrated brief bag is conventional insofar as it comprises oppositely interspaced panels 1 and 2, which may be made of relatively heavy leather, and a substantially flat edge wall strip 3 which extends around the periphery of the walls 1 and 2 so as to provide a box effect. The strip 3 may be made of lighter leather, as compared to the side walls, or it may be made of fabric. The top edge is provided with the usual zipper 4 and defines a mouth which may be opened and closed.

Normally the user of this type of brief bag carries it in the manner of the gentleman shown on the right in Fig. 1. When forced to stand in public conveyances it is customary for such a gentleman to clamp such a bag to his body by one elbow when he desires to read his newspaper. Sometimes such a brief bag is clamped between the knees, but this requires experience and is undignified.

According to the present invention a carrying strap 5 is provided, this strap having an end 6 connected to the casing, and a reel 7 which is also connected to the casing, the other end of the strap being connected to this reel 7 and the latter being adapted to wind and unwind a portion 8 of the strap 5. The strap end 6 and the reel 7 are positioned at interspaced locations, preferably with the end 6 at a lower corner of the bag and the reel 7 at the upper corner and at the same end of the bag. The adjacent portion of the strip 3 forms a substantially flat surface extending between the two locations just mentioned and the strap locates itself flatly against this surface when its portion 8 is wound on the reel 7 so as to tauten the por tion of the strap extending between the two mentioned locations.

When the strap is tautly located, as noted above, the

bag has the appearance of a conventional flat brief bag. It retains all of its usual professional appearance, and it may be carried and manipulated in the usual manner. However, the strap may be pulled so as to unwind its portion 8 from the reel 7, whereupon the strap becomes a shoulder strap so that the bag may be carried in the fashion of a shoulder strap bag, as is illustrated in the case of the gentleman on the left in Fig. 1. In such an instance the gentleman may read his newspaper with ease and dignity while safely carrying his brief bag. Any possible objections to the shoulder strap when the bag is in professional surroundings is eliminated by repositioning the shoulder strap, as previously described, so that it be comes extremely inconspicuous and is, for practical purposes, invisible.

Preferably the edge wall that is uppermost when the shoulder strap is in use is also provided with a zipper 4a. This is not absolutely necessary but it is a great convenience in connection with gaining access to the interior of the bag when the latter is being carried by means of the strap.

The reel 7 is located inside of the brief bag below the level of the edge wall 3. It is to be understood that this edge wall surrounds the bag peripherally and that its flat nature is substantially uninterrupted by the provision of the zippers. This edge wall 3 has an opening 9 through which the strap portion 8 extends. This renders the reel invisible and assists in rendering the strap inconspicuous. Also inside of the bag, the reel 7 is provided with a flat spiral spring 10, of the clockworks type, which is enclosed by a barrel 11 which is fastened securely to the wall 2. One end of the spring 10 connects with this barrel 11 and the other end connects with a rotative hub 12 on which the reel 7 is rigidly fastened. The arrangement is such that the spring 10 biases the reel 7 to Wind the strap portion 8.

One flange of the reel 7 has an annular series of notches 13 formed therein, and these notches may be selectively engaged by locking teeth 14 carried by the arms of a spider 15 which embraces the reel 7 and is biased to locking position by a coil spring 16. This spider has an operator 17 which projects through a hole formed in the wall 1. This operator is in the form of a hub which fits over a projecting end of the shaft 12a and is keyed thereto by a sliding key 18. Thus the spider 15 is locked against rotation, the spider in turn locking the reel 7 against rotation in either direction excepting when the operator 17 is depressed so as to release the locking teeth 14 from the notches 13.

The above locking arrangement may be modified considerably. The entire reel assembly together with its locking mechanism may all be enclosed, along with the spring, in a single barrel. The only requirement is that the reel be spring-biased to wind up the strap and that it be provided with a suitable means for locking against either winding or unwinding the strap portion 8. The operator which effects the unlocking action should project through one of the bags walls in a convenient fashion for operation by the user.

The strap itself may be made of relatively light leather, plastic, or other material. Preferably it should match the strip 3 as to general appearance so as to provide a camouflage eifeet.

It should-now be apparent that in Fig. 1 the gentleman on the left may slip the strap from his shoulder, and press the unlocking button of the reel, and thereby immediately transform his brief bag to the conventional brief bag appearance shown in the case of the bag carried by the gentleman on the right. Conversely, if the gentleman on the right desires to read his newspaper while standing, for example, he merely presses the reel unlocking button and pulls on the carrying strap, whereupon he may carry his bag in themannerrillustrated in the case of thegentlenia n'on rthe left. Since the reel may belocked atany position, it is also possible to unwind only enough of the strap to form a carrying handle, as contrasted to a shoulder strap efiect 7 V p v r v a It is apparent thatwithout detracting fronr the usual appearance ofjthe'briefbag that the present invention pro vides the convenience of the shoulder strap hag; type of carrying case. Although f particular importance in the case ofbrief bags of the professional type, .the present inventionmay, of course, be applied tofcarrying casesgof other types.

I claim: a

l. Acarryingcase including a'casing, a carrying strap having oneend connected to said casing, and a reel connected to said casing, the other end of said strap being I connected-to said reel and the latter being adapted to wind and unwind a portion of said strap, the first-named end having one endrconnected to said casing, and a reel connected to said casing, the other end of said strap being connected to said reel and the latter being adapted to wind and unwind a portion of said strap, the first-named end of said strap and said reel being positioned at interspaced locations and said casing forming a substantially flatsurface extending between said locations and against which said strap locates flatly when its said portion is wound on. said reel so as to tauten theportion of said strap extending between said locations, said 'reel being located inside of said casing below the. level oi said surface and said casing having an opening formed therethrough and 7 said strap extending through said opening, said reel havhaving one end connected to said casing, and a reel con-t nected to said casing, the other end of said strap being 7 connected to said feel and 'the'la'ttef being adapted to ing a spring connected therewith so as to bias said reel' 7 to wind said strap portion, andtmeans for 'releasably lock? ing said reel against winding and'unwinding action.

3. A carrying case including a casing, atcarrying strap wind and unwind a portion of said strap, the first-named end of said strap andwsaid reel beingpositioned at interspace'd locations and said casing forming a substantially fiat surface extending between said locations and against which said strap locates flatly when its said portion is wound on said reel so as to tauten the portion of said strap extending between said locations, said reel being located inside 'of said casing below the level of said surface and said casing having -an opening formed therethrough and said strap extending through said'opening, said reel'ha v- 7 ing a :spring connected therewith so as to bias said reeltto wind said strap portion, and means for releasablylocking said reel againstwinding and unwinding action, said means being located insideof said casing and including'a projecting'operatorelement and said casing having an opening through i which said element extends for operation from the outside of said casing. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,945,342 7 Witchger Feb. 6, 1934 2,069,255 Lifton Feb. 2, 1937 V 2,441,902 Powell May 1-8, 1948 Brennan Nov. 10, 1908 

